Kalkwasser mixing question

[jbanks]

I am in the process of setting up a new tank and wanted the benefits of a Kalk Stirrer... I was just wondering if I can mix the Kalk right in my 30 gal topoff drum that will automatically feed my sump via a float switch and bypass adding a kalk stirrer all together... I can put a mag 7 in the drum and use that to stir the Kalk periodically throughout the day.. Any thoughts... Could it really be this simple to save 300 bucks?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mouscacha]

I used to dump kalk directly into my topoff water. (mixed first of course). I just went directly to a calc reactor. Kalkwasser was a little too messy for me, and noticed my sandbed getting a little stiff.

 

[JAustin]

your sand bed was getting stiff because you may have overdosed the kalk at some point in time. High PH will precipitate calcium. I've dosed Kalk through top off for 2 years now and have had great results and no stiff sand bed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm jealous you have a calcium reactor but there is nothing wrong with kalk in top off or a kalk reactor.

 

[Sk8r]

Yes. No problem. Lid it tightly: I use a rolled up paper towel as a gasket to allow that.
Do of course dose regular alk/cal/mg to set your levels to ideal, then start your kalk drip---if you keep mg up, it should hold it for weeks and weeks.

 

[jbanks]

Great information... I really did not want to spend 300 buck on a stirrer. Here's the deal.. I also have a calcium reactor. I'm really not looking to dose for the purpose of the calcium /alk balance... Along with raising alk and PH, It is my understanding that kalk does a great job at binding phosphates so that it is skimmed more efficiently... So, my idea is to dose with Kalk, but using a smaller amount than a system where it is being used primarily to keep the cal/alk balance... It would be more like a buffer, with additional benefits if that makes sense... Thank you both!

 

[luther1200]

I drip kalk from a top off container also. I have been doing it for over 2 yrs. It works great. Just make sure you aren't adding it to fast. It has to be very slow.

 

[jbanks]

Is there a rule on how much Kalk to add per gallon of top-off water or does it come down to a case by case basis?

 

[luther1200]

Most Kalk mixes are 2 tsp per gallon.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Skip the stirrer / kalk reactor, there's really no point to them. Mix your kalk in the largest reservoir you can, let it settle a bit (if you want to, personally I never stop my dosing pump even when mixing more), and dispense top off from a few inches from the bottom. If you leave it undisturbed, the top will form a crust and any extra will precipitate to the bottom, waiting to be mixed into the next batch. Kalk won't degrade if you put it in a still reservoir, mix it, and leave it. The $300 you'd spend on a stirrer / reactor is so much better spent on a dosing pump like a Litermeter III -- which to me is ideal for dosing kalk, needs to be adjusted once every few months for seasonal evaporation changes but is basically fail safe.

Your 30g drum is perfect, but only use the stirring pump when mixing up more -- any more stirring only degrades the potency by aerating it. Make sure the feed to your ATO is not on the bottom of the drum where the precipitate could be dosed, and go for it.

 

[jbanks]

Thanks for all the great information guys... Gotcha' Luther

Alaskan Reefer wrote:
"Make sure the feed to your ATO is not on the bottom of the drum where the precipitate could be dosed, and go for it."

My top-drum will be elevated in order to gravity feed the sump.. So, I'm assuming I should put the plug about 12 inches above the bottom of the drum. Would that be sufficient in order to avoid the precipitated Kalk ?